ermined to let
the world know that the goal of their ambition was nearly reached;
that Congress had virtually surrendered at discretion, and
hereafter they were to be considered part and parcel of that great
body denominated American citizens.

Mrs. Hooker introduced Victoria Woodhull, saying it was her first
attempt at public speaking, but her heart was so in the movement
that she was determined to try. She advanced to the front of the
platform, but was so nervous that she required the assuring arm of
the president and her kindly voice to give her courage to proceed.
When she did, it was with a perceptible tremor in her tones. After
an apology, she read her memorial, which had been presented to the
judiciary committee, reported the result of her interview with
them, and said she had the assurance that it would be favorably
reported, and that the heart of every man in Congress was in the
movement. Thus ended the first effort of the great Wall street
broker as a public speaker.

She was followed by Josephine S. Griffing, Lillie Devereux Blake,
Frederick Douglass and others. Judge Riddle made the address of the
evening. Senator Nye, of Nevada, presided over one evening session;
Senator Warner, of Alabama, over one; and Senator Wilson, of
Massachusetts, over another. The correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press wrote: "Mrs. Woodhull sat sphynx-like during the convention.
General Grant himself might learn a lesson of silence from the pale,
sad face of this unflinching woman. No chance to send an arrow through
the opening seams of her mail.... She reminds one of the forces in
nature behind the storm, or of a small splinter of the indestructible;
and if her veins were opened they would be found to contain ice." The
National Republican thus describes one session:

The attendance yesterday morning clearly demonstrated that the
woman's movement has received an immense addition in numbers,
quality and earnestness.... Miss Anthony, with her face all aglow,
her eyes sparkling with indignation, said that a petition against
suffrage had been presented in the Senate by Mr. Edmunds, signed by
Mrs. General Sherman, Mrs. Admiral Dahlgren and others. She was
glad the enemies of the movement at last had shown themselves. They
were women who never knew a want, and had no feeling for those who
were less fortunate. They had boasted that if ne